NEW DELHI: India summoned Iran’s senior diplomat in New Delhi on Tuesday to protest against attacks on two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz that killed an Indian seafarer and wounded several others.
The Indian foreign ministry said it had summoned the deputy chief of mission of the Iranian embassy in the capital to register “a strong protest” against the attacks reported early on Tuesday.
The two vessels had a total of 46 crew members, including 30 Indians, one of whom has “tragically lost his life”, it said in a statement.
“India is deeply concerned by the attacks on two vessels, MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa, during their transit through the Strait of Hormuz today,” it said.
Maritime Security Concerns
The attacks came amid a sharp escalation in regional hostilities after the United States launched a fresh wave of air strikes on Iranian military targets, prompting Tehran to expand retaliatory operations across the Gulf.
#WATCH | Delhi: Iranian diplomats including Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Mohammad Javad Hosseini, who were summoned by Ministry of External Affairs, over recent attack on merchant vessels in Hormuz, leave from MEA
An Indian sailor was killed, six others were wounded in Iranian… pic.twitter.com/BUTEFblCdO
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2026
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, carrying a significant share of global oil shipments and commercial trade.
For India, whose economy depends heavily on energy imports and maritime commerce, any disruption in the waterway carries wider economic and strategic implications.
India is also one of the world’s largest suppliers of merchant seafarers. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the country had more than 320,000 active seafarers in 2025, many of whom serve aboard international commercial vessels operating through conflict-prone waters.
The Ministry of External Affairs urged an immediate end to hostilities and called for all parties to return to dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with international law.
The latest incident follows another attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Oman on Sunday. That ship carried 11 Indian nationals, ten of whom were rescued, while one remains missing.
The developments have heightened concerns over the safety of commercial shipping, the security of Indian nationals working at sea and the potential impact of prolonged conflict on regional stability and global energy markets.
